Ever looked at a job description and thought, "Wow I am totally NOT qualified..." Or left an interview thinking, "Hmm I don't even know what it's like to work there." Or wonder, "What happens after I accept this offer?" If you've ever been too afraid to apply for a position, thinking that it might be a stretch, but desperately wanted to be more than just gainfully employed, and instead feel fulfilled, challenged, and appreciated, then the first forum on 2014 is for YOU! In this upcoming forum titled Finding a Fit, you'll learn: • Why it's important that you apply to positions even though you might feel under-qualified • How to determine if a company has a culture that meets your needs • How to confidently and compassionately set standards for you boss and colleagues before you accept an offer

1. Finding a Fit
How to Evaluate a Company’s Culture and the Opportunity
Femgineer Forum
#femgineerforum
...
Sponsored by: ModCloth
January 29, 2014
Poornima Vijayashanker
poornima@femgineer.com
@poornima
1

2. Happy New Year!
2

3. We have a LOT in store for you in 2014!
3

4. Format
Brief talk on strategies to help you level-up
• Breakout session to practice strategies
• Presentations to get feedback
•
4

5. Agenda
Why is it important to gauge culture and the
opportunity?
• How do you gauge culture?
• How do you evaluate an opportunity?
• Breakout session
•
5

6. My story: never met a job description I fulfilled.
6

7. We’re not going to focus on:
Changing current environment.
Changing your personality!
7

8. Find a Fit!
8

9. “I should just take what I’m
given & be happy...”
9

10. You Have More Leverage Than You Think!
1. Understand why the company wants YOU
2. Know that you are adding value to the company
e.g. just because you are inexperienced doesn’t mean
you are incapable
3. ASK for what you need
e.g. internship or contract vs. full-time offer
Supplemental Reading: Think you don’t have any leverage?
10

11. People will also take you more seriously.
11

12. 12

13. “Why is it important to gauge
the culture & opportunity?”
13

14. Mis-prioritization
1. Worried about skills fitting job description
2. Salary over everything else
3. Failing to understand what the day-to-day will
be like
14

15. Performance & productivity is based on happiness.
15

16. To be happy you have to be in a happy environment!
16

17. “How do you gauge the
opportunity?”
17

18. How to Evaluate an Opportunity
1. Don’t let the job description reject you
e.g. MUST Have’s vs. Nice to Have’s
2. Be clear about what you want to do and what
you DON’T want to do
3. Iron out any and ALL ambiguities
18

19. Needs Analysis
1. Do you really want to work for a place that
doesn’t give you what you need?
2. We’re too afraid to ask thinking we’ll get
rejected or put someone out.
3. ASK for what you need.
e.g. forum attendee last year
19

20. “How do you gauge culture?”
20

21. Questions to Ask During Interview
Behavioral Style Questions
Biased Questions
“Tell me about the last deadline your team
faced? What was it like?”
“Do you have to pull all-nighters to meet
deadlines?”
“Do you socialize together after work? What
are your team’s favorite activities?”
“I hope the team doesn’t play video games
together after work. I am not a gamer.”
“What was the best pieces of advice you’ve
received from your manager?”
“Have you ever been chewed out by your
manager?”
“Tell me about the last disagreement you
witnessed. What was it about? How was it
resolved?”
“Do people yell at each other when they
disagree?”
Supplemental Reading: Will I fit? Tips for Measuring Company Culture
21

22. Policies vs. Practice
22

23. Policies vs. Practice
Policies
Practice
Unlimited vacation!
No one takes vacation.
Remote working.
Frowned upon when people do it.
Everyone leaves the office at 6pm.
People log back in after 7pm.
We are kid friendly and female friendly.
No one has kids and there are no women.
23

24. Uncertainty & setbacks.
24

25. Too good to be true?
25

26. Take it!
26

27. 27

28. Review
Why is it important to gauge culture and the
opportunity?
• How do you gauge culture?
• How do you evaluate an opportunity?
• Breakout session
•
28

29. Next Forum!
Upstart in Google Ventures
February 26, 2014
Visit meetup.com/femgineers
29

30. Want to host a forum at your company?
Contact: justin@femgineer.com
30

31. Lean Product Development Course
Visit femgineer.com/learn
Mentoring
Visit femgineer.com/mentoring
1 spot currently available
31

32. Q&A
32

33. Breakout Session!
33

34. BREAK OUT SESSION
KEY OBJECTIVE(S)
AGENDA
Get comfortable
identifying coming up
with your list of needs,
expressing it, gauging
culture, and the
opportunity.
30 minutes Get into groups of ~5 people.
1. Introduce yourself to the group.
2. Go through handout
3. Group exercise
4. Individual exercise
5. Present & receive feedback
DELIVERABLE
Short presentation
34